Apparatus for dredging



June 14, 1938. MlTH 2,120,444

APPARATUS FOR DREDGING Filed Feb. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet June 14, 1938. T S TH 2,120,444

APPARATUS FOR DREDGING Filed Feb. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to dredging, and particularly to a method of and apparatus for removing material from the bottom of a river or lake.

The main object of this invention is the construction of an apparatus and the practice of a method of removing material from a river or lake bed and delivering it to another point.

The second object is the employment of a scraper for dredging operations in a manner that it will not merely dig a ditch in the river bed but will serve to level off the bottom of the river bed to a predetermined depth.

The third object is the utilization of a fioating vessel for supporting and propelling the dredging scraper.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the scraper in a dredging position in full lines and showing the scraper in conveying and discharging positions in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scraper employed.

Fig. 4 is a plan showing a portion of a shore line and showing the dredge in a digging position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the portion of a shore line on which is located a gravel collecting hopper.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a shallow draft boat I9, preferably driven by a paddle wheel I I, and steered by means of the rudder I2. The boat I9 is provided with a boom I3 one end of which is hingedly mounted on the boat In on the pivot l4. On the rear end of the boom I3 is mounted a sheave I5. Between the sheave IE and pivot I4 is a second sheave I9. Attached to the outer end of the boom I3 is a boom handling line I! which is operated by means of a cable winding drum I8.

The dredge bucket I9 is preferably of the type shown in Fig. 3 and is provided with a pair of bails 20 and 2!. To the bail 20 is attached the rearmost bucket line 22 which passes over the sheave I5 to the cable winding drum 23. To the forward or digging end 24 of the bucket I9 is attached the bail 2| to which is secured the forward bucket line 25 which passes over the sheave I6 to the cable winding drum 26.

To the forward end 24 of the bucket I9 are also secured the hitch links 21. To each link 21 is secured a bucket hauling line 28 which is secured to the bow of the boat ID to the manually operated winch 29.

In order to illustrate the use of this invention there is shown a body of water 30 on whose shore 3| is disposed a gravel bunker 32.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The bucket I9 is lowered by manipulation of the cable winding drums 23 and 26 until its teeth 33 engage the bottom 34 of the body of water 39. The lines 28 have been adjusted'to a length which will hold the bucket I9 in substantially the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 during the digging operation, and the boat Ill is moved ahead under the power of the paddle Wheel II causing the bucket I9 to fill.

The lines 22 and 25 are then hauled in by their respective drums 23 and 26 and the bucket I9 raised to the position shown in dotted lines, as I9A in Fig. 1, which is just clear of the water, and the boat Ill is then propelled to its destination, as shown in Fig. 5, and the bucket I 9 elevated to the position shown as i9B to clear the bunker 32. The forward line 25 is then permitted to pay out causing the end 24 to drop and 25 discharge the bucket load into the bunker 32, and the boat HI is then returned to the dredging site for another load.

This style of apparatus is especially adapted for use in swift running waters and for a limited length of haul under which conditions it possesses numerous advantages not findable in other types of equipment. In swift running waters, for example, buckets like the clamshell or orange peel bucket are inclined to capsize and not fill properly. The main objection to the Bagley type of'scraper lies in the fact that it tends to dig a narrow channel instead of leveling off the bottom of the channel as is commonly desired. Also by means of the scarifier teeth 35, there is a general loosening and leveling action taking place at each passage of the bucket I9.

While I have illustrated and described the device as being used in connection with a gravel bunker 32, it must be understood that the bucket I9 may be discharged upon scows or upon the shore line or its load dropped into the Water at a point more desired from the one which it is taken. It must also be understood that the boom I3 and the cable winding drums I8, 23 and 26 and the winch 29 may be mounted upon a scow, which in turn is propelled by a power boat without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

a pair of sheaves mounted on the projecting end of said boom, cable-winding mechanisms mounted on said boat having cables passing over said sheaves to the front and rear ends of said bucket, and means for operating said cable-winding mechanisms independently.

CHARLES T. SIVHTH. 

